No Change

There seems to be some confusion over how many of the five rounds of voting have now been completed. If the two postponed rounds are counted then there is only one vote left. If only actual votes are counted then there are three more opportunities to find a President. If anyone knows which is correct please enlighten me.

Either way, though, it seems immaterial. Clearly there was no progress on finding a consensus candidate between the first and second votes, and there seems to be no great urgency to produce one. It seems instead that both parties are now resigned to - or perhaps enthusiastically looking forward to - a general election.

How a general election will help, I don't know. There are no new people, no new parties and no new ideas out there. A general election will merely reshuffle the existing pack. Even if the Socialist parties were to win an election and form the next government, if they can't deliver 84 votes they can't elect a President.

So what happens then? If a new Parliament failed to elect a President would it have to be dissolved and would there be yet another general election? If so, why would a Democrat opposition, having been forced into an election under these circumstances, support any candidate for President, knowing that to do so would consolidate the Socialists in power?

I assume that various outside agencies are leaning on the parties to find a resolution but at the moment it looks unlikely. Still with 12 days to come up with a viable candidate, there is still time for a surprise.

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nick said…

A general election at this time will solve nothing as the left is still not ready for anything. The DP will probably win it by saying "look, the left wants to spend taxpayers money with a useless election instead of electing a president. We even offered them seats in gov't!"Although the upcoming energy crisis and next years certain water crisis will probably swing some votes to the left. In any event its hard to imagine that RAMA could win the 84 seats needed.

If both parties seriously did not want a general election than they should've left moisiu as president. The guy has done a great job and holds the balance, unlike Topi, a DP member.Also, I am puzzled Berisha chose to go with a muslim choice for president. In his earlier years in politics it was him as president and meksi (an orthodox) as PM. It was always so. Topi and Berisha are both muslims. Historically at least one has always been christian to appease the orthodox intelligentia as the Parlianment speaker on all Berisha gov'ts has been Catholic (Arbnori, Topalli). I remember in '97 when he briefly appointed FINO as PM and told his advisors "ok, we'll appoint him since he is a socialist, be he isn't christian". Obviously the emergency of the situation then required someone, anyone and Fino was there to ease a situation that would inevitably erupt.

It seems to me that you approve of Moisiu and not Topi or another candidate simply because of their religion. Would Nano, an Orthodox, be better for you? Who cares about the religion of the President? That's absolutely the LAST factor that needs to be considered. Since when did we get rid of separation of state and religion?

Not really. Actually Moisiu has jewish roots. Just saying that the Berisha gov'ts over the years have always made this distinction. I dont approve topi because he is a DP member not because of his religion (if he indeed even practices one). And dont approve Nano because well...he is Nano..lol. However, thats the way its always done. It's like having all the ministers from the south or the north. You might say, they are all qualified. But it doesnt matter, you have to appease the masses. In this case the Orthodox intelligentia will definately give more of a backing to on orthodox (only nominally so)non-party figure.

In my view Kadare would have been the best choice. He is Albania's number 1 ambassador working for free in the world. The guy is charming, knows how to approach an issue and alwasy looks at the bigger picture. But of course, most of those in power and opposition look at him as an ex-commie. Interestingly, most of them were ex-commies themselves and in those days accused Kadare of not being an ultra-commie!

Kadare cannot be elected president because for the last 10 yrs he hasn't resided in Albania and that is a constitutional requirement. Your idea about Kadare shows just how off you're when it comes to the reality in Albania and absolutely invalidates that dumb, dumb, dumb comment about the religion of the president.

If I were in your place I'd refrain myself from making anymore comments on the religion of Albanins in the future.

hey ll.t. who died and made u enver hoxha. What I said was said by Berisha in the past to his advisors and many other politicians (some of who are now heads of parties) in albania informally. Now that is the status quo in albania buddy. There's a hidden rule that when one is of this religion, the other one has to be of another...i didnt make it up. And since when is speaking about religion in albania taboo? What right do u have to refrain me to talk about a subject that is discussed widely everywhere in the world (just look at the US presidential debates) except in albania.

As to your constitutional req'd many politicians dont seem to bother with them when it comes to adhering to the law and protecting their own businesses. Do u really believe for a second that they follow it that blidly. Kadare was offered the presidency in the past even though he was living in France....

brother how is this issue sensitive to our country? Since most albanians dont care about religion (at least thats what we read all day long from people on boards) why would this issue be sensitive? And who doesn't "comprehend them?"

Once again, I dont think religion is a touchy subject in albania and it should be talked about cause there's still much confusion when it comes to our identity and it is holding us back. If you can't understand that man, than I'm really sorry but perhaps you shouldn't comment on it at all. And if something makes you unconfortable close your eyes and dont read it.

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Tomorrow in the wee hours of the morning we will be heading for the airport for the last time. I suppose it was too much to expect that I could have kept this going while getting ready to leave. So apologies for the lack of postings over the last weeks. This is post number 380 something so I suppose one post every two days is not a bad average.

There were probably 380 more in my head or scribbled down on scraps of paper, but many of them are perhaps best left there.

I suppose I should be penning - or typing - my final thoughts and reflections on two years in Tirana, but right now I don't have any. Maybe in a month or two though I might come back with something.

Thanks to all of you who have read this blog - especially those of you who have become regulars. Thanks also for linking and thanks to all who left comments.

Welcome to Our Man in Tirana. I moved to Tirana, capital of Albania, in October 2005 and left in October 2007. This blog is a mix of photographs, reports, links, impressions and, undoubtedly, prejudices relating to the city and the country.

Since I am no longer in Tirana I am no longer updating this blog. However, there are over 300 posts covering this two year period and I hope that they are still of some interest.

So if you are curious about Albania or if you are planning to visit I hope this blog will be of value.

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